When you own a dog, your furry friend becomes part of the family. So when you have some leftovers at dinner, you may want to give them to your pet. However, you shouldn’t feed your German Shepherd just anything.
German Shepherds can eat certain ham bones. If it’s a cooked ham bone, it can harm the dog inside by splintering. Raw ham bones are also risky, but dogs can chew on them with supervision. German Shepherds can have certain bone-related treats, like rawhide.
If you have some leftover ham bones, you may not want to throw them out, but giving one as a treat to your German Shepherd isn’t ideal. Keep reading to learn more about dogs and ham bones.
Giving Dogs Raw Ham Bones
If you want to use up some extra raw ham bones, you can give them to your dog. However, you can’t feed it to your dog and walk away. You need to prepare the bones and the area where your dog will snack on them.
While raw ham bones aren’t as problematic as cooked bones, they can still cause issues. You need to make sure your dog stays safe as they chew on or eat the bones. Here’s what to do to keep your dog safe:
Prepare The Space
Determine where you want your dog to eat the ham bone. Your dog may make a mess, so you should choose an area that will be easy to clean. If the weather is nice, you can take your dog into your backyard for the treat.
But if you want to feed your dog inside, you should use a tile or linoleum floor. That way, you can wipe up any mess your dog makes when they’re done. If you don’t have tile or linoleum, you can lay down a tarp or a towel to protect the floor underneath.
Then, your dog can lay on the floor or towel for their ham bone. Make sure you give your German Shepherd plenty of room in case they want to move around.
Supervise
Make sure you have free time to watch your dog when you give them a ham bone. You should give as much attention as possible to your dog. In case you need to grab the bone from your German Shepherd.
If your dog chews too aggressively or starts to experience pain, you should immediately take the bone away. It’ll prevent your dog from developing more pain or swallowing the bone, which can cause internal problems.
You should also take the bone away from your dog if won’t be able to look after it. Or you should ask another member of your household to make sure your dog doesn’t get hurt.
Continue To Watch
After your dog finishes chewing on a raw ham bone, dispose of it so that they can’t get to it. Don’t leave it in the can in your kitchen because your dog can smell it and could get to the bone.
You should monitor your dog throughout the next few days to make sure they’re okay. Some symptoms related to eating a ham bone include:
- Dental problems, like broken or cracked teeth
- Bloody stool
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet as soon as you can. Your vet can figure out if the bone caused the problem, and they can treat the issue.
Giving Dogs Cooked Ham Bones
You should avoid giving your German Shepherd cooked ham bones at all costs. Cooked bones include table scraps, and those bones can break or splinter. If your dog ingests those bones, it can cause issues and pain in their stomach.
The bones can lead to digestive issues, and you may need to pay a lot for a vet visit to remedy the situation. Make sure you keep cooked bones out of your dog’s reach and dispose of them as soon as you don’t need them.
Avoid Them After Dental Work
While you should never give your dog cooked ham bones, you should be especially careful after your dog has dental work. After a dental treatment, your dog’s teeth may not be able to handle bones’ hardness, so it can hurt their teeth.
Give your dog a few days to a week to recover before you give them anything super hard to eat. Consult your vet to see what you can and can’t give your dog after dental treatment.
Symptoms To Watch Out For
Sometimes, your dog may get a hold of cooked ham bones without your permission. If your dog gets into the trash or grabs a bone off the counter, you may not know it happened until symptoms start showing. There are a few symptoms you can look for to determine if your dog ate one.
- Rectal bleeding
- Broken teeth
- Mouth or tongue injuries
- Constipation
- Peritonitis, which is an abdominal infection
- Bones looped around the lower jaw
If you notice these symptoms, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet can treat the symptoms and, hopefully, help your dog recover.
Giving Dogs Ham Bone Treats
Luckily, you can give your German Shepherd some treats when they’ve been a good dog or if you just want to treat them to something special. While you should avoid ham bones, you can give your dog some ham bone treats.
However, you also need to be careful when giving your dog ham bone treats. Some can cause similar symptoms to regular ham bones. Your dog may experience the following:
- Choking
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rectal bleeding
- Cuts in their mouth or throat
- Gastrointestinal blockage
The difference with these treats is that the cause tends to be the flavoring that dog treat manufacturers use. It makes the treat tastier for your dog, but it can cause a lot of problems. Always ask your vet before giving anything new to your dog to make sure it’s safe.
What To Give Your German Shepherd
If you can’t give your dog cooked or raw ham bones, and you shouldn’t give them treats from the store, what can you give your German Shepherd besides standard dog food?
- One excellent option for your dog is antler chews. They’re great for aggressive chewers, and they can withstand a lot of chewing from your dog. You can find them in different sizes, so make sure the bone isn’t too big or small for your German Shepherd.
- Another thing you can give your dog is natural material rawhide. You can also find this treat in different sizes, and it can be great for when you need to distract your dog. They can focus on chewing instead of what’s happening around them.
- If your dog recently had dental work or isn’t an aggressive chewer, you can give them some good old rubber chew toys. You don’t have to worry about supervising your dog, and you can even put some peanut butter on it.
Final Thoughts
Like any dog, a German Shepherd loves a good treat every now and then. If you have some extra ham bones, you may think they’re a good option. However, they can cause a lot of harm if you aren’t careful. Make sure you don’t give your dog cooked bone and opt for alternative treats, like rawhide and antler chews.
Sources
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/no-bones-or-bone-treats-about-it-reasons-not-give-your-dog-bones
- https://www.rover.com/blog/can-dog-eat-ham-bones/
- https://emborapets.com/can-german-shepherds-chew-on-bones/